Judy McNeil had plenty to do the morning of the Brass Ring Luncheon’s kickoff party. Reminding everyone to get out and sell those tickets wasn’t on the list.
Though the benefit for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at Denver isn’t until Nov. 19, all seats already have been sold.
The kickoff party held at Saks Fifth Avenue in Cherry Creek was coordinated by Sharon Whiton Gelt and featured a brunch catered by the Marriott City Center and fall fashion preview from Saks. A party to thank patron-level supporters and sponsors will be held Oct. 7 at the Loews Denver Hotel.Sally Newcomb, president of the sponsoring Guild of The Children’s Diabetes Foundation, reminded guests that this is The Guild’s 30th anniversary year and introduced Tom Sattler, whose Sattler Homes has built the High Hopes Show Home in Ravenna with proceeds earmarked for the foundation. The home opens on Friday and will be available for tours every weekend through Oct. 26. Additional information is available by calling Susie at the CDF office, 303-628-5109. Sandy Alpert is The Guild’s liaison to the show house.Gretchen Pope and Sally Frerichs are in charge of the auction to be conducted at the Brass Ring Luncheon and announced that items will include a miniature house, valued at $11,000; an English saddle, donated by Dianne Bartlett; and mah jongg lessons with lunch.
Saks Fifth Avenue is the Brass Ring’s fashion sponsor, and the 85 kickoff guests got a first look at what’s new for fall, courtesy of fashion director Cynthia Petrus and store manager Kay Cline.
“Fall looks absolutely wonderful,” Petrus observed, noting that key wardrobe pieces would be boots, top-handle purses, slacks and suits.
Guests included Patty Jenkins, Debbie Gradishar, Jessie Ketter, Nancy Cowee, Helen Hanks, Diane Sweat, Eunice Romano, Pat Crofts, Janyce Wald, Carol Karsh, Judy Chiodo and daughter Shelley Lucas, Sharon Kamen, Chris Yaros, Kristina Davidson, Marsha Duemke, Celeste McNeil, Bonita Carson, Jamie Angelich, Gail Johnson, Connie Genova and Deb Smith.

Pictures taken at the Brass Ring Luncheon kickoff can be viewed at denverpost.com/seengallery

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.

Study after study has shown that when it comes to charitable fundraisers, Denver has more per capita than any comparably sized city in the nation. Joanne Davidson has been covering them for The Denver Post since 1985, coming here from her native California where she'd spent the previous seven years as San Francisco bureau chief for U.S. News & World Report magazine.